The observance of Independence Day will take on a much greater meaning this year because of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty and the rededication of the famous monument on Liberty Island in New York City.

But in our constantly changing American way of living, Independence Day is probably more of a family-outing-type holiday than the big, booming patriotic July Fourth celebrations of the "good old days."

In those days, many communities tried to surpass other celebrations in both size, noise and originality.

Perhaps the most famous Independence Day celebration ever staged in the Carbon County-Panther Valley area occurred in Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe) 88 yearsago tomorrow.

Less than five months before, on Feb. 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine had been sunk in the harbor at Havana, Cuba, precipitating the Spanish- American War. By that July Fourth, feverish patriotic demonstrations were taking place throughout the nation.

Wealthy civic leaders in Mauch Chunk, then at its height as a tourist and excursion mecca, decided they would organize the most unique patriotic demonstration in the United States at that time.

With Oliver Jarrard, the pioneer owner of the first electric light plant in the community, serving as chairman, elaborate, expensive plans were advanced.

At 2 p.m. July Fourth, 1898, the largest American flag ever flown up until that historic time was unfurled high above the Lehigh River between the Flagstaff and Bear mountains.

As the crowd, estimated to be more than 10,000 people, cheered wildly, cannons boomed, bands blared and whistles sounded, the famous large flag began to move out on a cable from Bear Mountain.

A 200-voice choir, accompanied by the Mauch Chunk Band, sang the most popular song of the day, "Avenge the Maine." The thunderous Independence Day celebration ever produced in the area was climaxed with a two-hour fireworks display in the evening.

The flag was large, even by modern day standards. Each of the 45 stars measured 36 inches in diameter. The flag, manufactured in Hazleton, was 75 feet 8 inches in length and 57 feet wide. It contained 985 square yards of bunting and 27 square yards of star bunting, for a total of 1,012 square yards of material.

Erection of the physical facilities to fly such a large flag was in charge of the Sons of Veterans organization, and directed by the late Charles Armbruster, a Lehigh Valley Railroad employee.

Anchor posts 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter were used to support the 3,000-foot long cable that weighed about 1,000 pounds. Although the flag only weighed 265 pounds, the cable was capable of supporting more than four tons.

Those who planned the flag's unfurling failed to take into consideration the extremely high winds that whipped through the Lehigh River Gorge at times between the mountains. As a result, high winds twisted the flag around the cable, despite its weight.

Several days after the celebration, the late George Herman and Jerry Trout of Jim Thorpe undertook the dangerous task of unraveling the flag from around the heavy steel cable.

Wearing wide safety belts with rings attached to the cable, the two men moved out over the river and unraveled the flag. They also added lead weights to the bottom of the flag in an effort to keep it from raveling around the cable again.

Within a few months, however, the once proud banner was nearly torn to shreds by a wind storm. It was replaced by smaller flags, but they eventually met the same fate.

Despite its dramatic setting, the Mauch Chunk flag has to take a second place in our country's history. Since that time, it was surpassed by a flag that was flown from New York's George Washington Bridge that measured 90 feet long and 60 feet wide.

Jim Thorpe is one of the few communities in the area that continues to hold a July Fourth celebration, known as "Stay At Home" program.

For the last 21 years, a "Stay at Home" family program has been held at the borough's Memorial Park. It opens with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by bicycle races for boys and girls at the adjoining Jim Thorpe Area School District's football stadium. Competitive games, including sack races, peanut scrambles, pie and watermelon eating contests are held throughout the afternoon. In past years, the festivities concluded with a band concert and a fireworks display, but this year, the fireworks will not be shown because of the excessive costs of liability insurance coverage.